National Briefing | West: California: Students Sue Over Test

A group of high school seniors and their parents filed a lawsuit against the State Department of Education and the schools superintendent, Jack O'Connell, claiming the California high school exit exam is illegal and discriminatory. Arturo Gonzalez, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the suit would probably expand to represent tens of thousands of students who have met all local requirements to graduate except passing both parts of the test. Students in the class of 2006 are the first required to pass the two-part test, which has sections in math and English. A Department of Education spokeswoman, Hilary McLean, said she had no immediate comment.